Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Very satisfactory or acceptable; fine.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective completely satisfactory.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective US Fine, excellent, OK.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective completely satisfactory

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Unknown; many unproven theories exist, all of which lack supporting evidence. Theories include that the term originated among African Americans in the US South in the early 20th century or late 19th century; that it was first used by British soldiers stationed in Palestine before 1948, based on the Hebrew הכל בסדר (hakól b'séder, "everything is O.K."); and Louisiana French or Italian provenance. Jazz historians attribute the word's coinage to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

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Examples

  • Word History: We know very little about the origin of the word copacetic, meaning "excellent, first-rate."

    The WELL: West L.A. Fadeaway Robert Hunter 2006

  • If copacetic is Creole French in origin, it would also have a Southern homeland.

    The WELL: West L.A. Fadeaway Robert Hunter 2006

  • I don't know if that's the right way to use the word copacetic, but I know what you mean and yes, got it.

    MORE FROM GINNY BATES -- NO U-HAULS, JUST BORROW A FRIEND'S TRUCK Maggie Jochild 2007

  • One of the few songs (in fact, I can't think of another off hand) bold enough to include "copacetic" and, with a flourish of daredevil panache, to rhyme it as well.

    The WELL: West L.A. Fadeaway Robert Hunter 2006

  • No consternation that most OGXers have found it more copacetic to turn conservatives (remember a Reagan Youth?); or instead to embrace what Baudrillard (a French Postmodern) would call a "soft ideologies" of ecologism as well as antiracism, instead of, say, amicable justice.

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • No consternation which many OGXers have found it more copacetic to become conservatives (remember a Reagan Youth?); or instead to embrace what Baudrillard (a French Postmodern) would call a "soft ideologies" of ecologism as well as antiracism, instead of, say, social justice.

    Archive 2009-11-01 admin 2009

  • The Apple fan-boy above is right in that Apple wants to work with its partners to assure that everything is copacetic.

    Let the iPhones run free (Jack Bog's Blog) 2009

  • No consternation which many OGXers have found it more copacetic to become conservatives (remember a Reagan Youth?); or instead to embrace what Baudrillard (a French Postmodern) would call a "soft ideologies" of ecologism as well as antiracism, instead of, say, social justice.

    The Original Generation X, 1954-63 by Joshua Glenn admin 2009

  • On the outside, things will be less copacetic, as Nancy's plan to reunite her far-flung family won't go smoothly, as not everyone will want to see her.

    Mega Buzz: Mentalist's Red John Dilemma, Weeds' Family Trials and Minds' Return 2011

  • No consternation that most OGXers have found it more copacetic to turn conservatives (remember a Reagan Youth?); or instead to embrace what Baudrillard (a French Postmodern) would call a "soft ideologies" of ecologism as well as antiracism, instead of, say, amicable justice.

    The Original Generation X, 1954-63 by Joshua Glenn admin 2009

Comments

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  • And you just don't get it

    you keep it copacetic

    And you learn to accept it

    You know it's so pathetic

    September 13, 2007

  • I don't like this word. For more fascinating information, see copasetic.

    September 13, 2007

  • I've despised this word from the moment I first heard it. I don't really have any particular reason; it's just one of those words that makes me wince every time I hear it.

    April 17, 2008

  • I hate this word!

    April 25, 2008

  • I don't like this word either its like saying copathetic

    July 18, 2008

  • Isn't that funny -- I've always hated this word as well. I wonder why it has earned such disdain? There must be a common thread...

    July 18, 2008

  • It may be the kind of people who say it. I'd never encountered it until I read it in a (I think) James Lee Burke novel about five years ago, and I immediately thought it was coolissimo.

    July 19, 2008

  • Can't believe I just said "coolissimo".

    July 19, 2008

  • I don't even like this word enough to put it on my despise list.

    July 19, 2008

  • You some kind of freak, Yarbissimo.

    July 19, 2008

  • Sounds like a prescription drug.

    July 19, 2008

  • But yarb, James Lee Burke novels are coolissimo.

    I'm just sayin'.

    July 24, 2008

  • Another person checking in who discovered this word via a James Lee Burke novel.

    August 2, 2009

  • I have heard the word 'copacetic' was created by Louis Armstrong. Any truth, or any other attributions?

    Thanks,

    Barbara Lightheart

    September 29, 2009

  • We have a true mystery on our hands. It certainly seems like some of the expressions are crazier than others. The Native American would be from Washington state, which is way outside the bounds of where it was used. The Yiddish also seems ridiculous. French is somewhat reasonable, especially given the usage in Louisiana by people like Satchmo. Without finding some 19th century writing (very unlikely), we will never know.

    December 21, 2009

  • Everyone else seemed to be confused, but for me- all was copacetic.

    September 22, 2010